“Barrister Ocholi was an accomplished and patriotic Nigerian, who was keen to accept the call to service at a time his country needed him,” President Buhari said, adding that in the few months he had been in office, the Minister of State had already begun to distinguish himself through his commitment and dedication to his portfolio.
President Buhari also condoled with the government and people of Kogi State, whom he described as having lost a distinguished and irreplaceable son. He prayed that God would comfort them and grant them the grace to bear the loss.
“The entire country mourns the loss of this great man, who has sadly left us when we need him most,” he said.
President Buhari has also sent the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, David Babachir, to formally convey the news to members of the deceased family as well as parishioners in his place of worship.
Ocholi has had a long record of political association with President Buhari.
Bar Ocholi, a senior advocate of Nigeria died this afternoon in car crash along Abuja-Kaduna high way.
Narrating how the incident occurred, the spokesman for the Kaduna State Police Command, Zubairu Abubakar, told our correspondent that the accident occurred while the family were returning from a private visit in Kaduna at Rijiana village along the expressway on Sunday afternoon.
He confirmed that while the Minister and his son died on the spot of the incident, his wife died few minutes after, at Doka General Hospital, about 60 kilometres to Kaduna, having sustained severe injuries.
He also said that the Minister’s driver was in a critical condition at the same hospital.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, has described Mr Ocholi’s death as a great loss to Nigeria, his family and the Nigerian Bar Association.
Mr James Ocholi was appointed Minister by President Muhammadu Buhari in November 2015.
#Alabingo with agency reports.
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